MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila was almost at a standstill on Wednesday after the onslaught of storm "Basyang" (international name Conson), which forced a blackout and suspension of operation of major modes of transportation.

Classes in the elementary and high school levels were suspended due to the typhoon.

The Commission on Higher Education, meanwhile, has given university and college administrators the authority to suspend classes.

Colleges and universities that have suspended their classes were the University of Sto. Tomas, Dr. Carlos Lanting College in Novaliches, University of the Philippines in Quezon City, San Beda College-Manila, Ateneo de Manila,  Miriam College, Arellano University, STI,  Far Eastern University, St. Scholastica's College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Philippine Maritime Institute-Quezon City. 

Work at the Senate has also been suspended.

As of 4 a.m., the typhoon was 90 kilometers west of Metro Manila. It was moving west northwest at a speed of 22 kilometers per hour, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kph and gusts of up to 120 kph.

Storm Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Metro Manila, Batangas, Laguna, northern Quezon including Polillo Island, Rizal, Cavite including LUbang Island, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, and Pangasinan.

Passengers were also stranded due to suspended operations of the Metro Rail Transit and the Light Rail Transit.

Boto Patrollers also reported that as early as 6 a.m. the Sucat area of the South Luzon Expressway was closed.

A huge Skyway structure fell prompting all south-bound motorists to use Sucat toll exit as an alternate road.
 
Small floods along EDSA particularly in front of Camp Aguinaldo also caused traffic while pockets of floods caused heavy traffic in Edsa Guadalupe going to Makati. 

As of 4 a.m., 47 international and local flights were canceled, while 17 flights were delayed.

In its 5 a.m. report, the National Disaster Coordinating Council reported that a total of 3,135 people were stranded in various ports in Bicol region, Manila, Batangas, Lucena, San Jose, and Puerto Real.

Parts of Metro Manila were also hit by floods due to overnight rain.

The NDCC said flooded areas are in Quezon City, including Aurora-Abad Santos Avenue, Tandang Sora Avenue, and Sangandaan and in Manila, including Delpan-Recto, Bambang-Abad Santos Avenue, north bound of Quezon Boulevard, P. guevarra, Lacson Avenue, Antipolo-España Avenue and Pureza.

Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon Ejercito III has also reported flooding in Victoria town. The governor has requested rubber boats to the NDCC for relief and rescue operations.